Yamaha Celebrates 30 Years of Excellence at DCI World Championships

Buena Park, CA. (August 22, 2014) — For the last 30 years, Yamaha has supported many of the most accomplished drum and bugle corps in the United States through product training and support during their competitive summer seasons.

Yamaha’s relationship with DCI began three decades ago when the Madison Scouts from Madison, Wisconsin, one of the most successful drum and bugle corps in the world, adopted Yamaha instruments. For 28 years, Yamaha has sponsored the Cavaliers from Rosemont, Illinois and the company also enjoys longstanding relationships with the Bluecoats from Canton, Ohio, and the Colts from Dubuque, Iowa.

DCI is a non-profit, global youth activity that takes the lead in music education by holding well-attended competitions and entertaining millions through live performances and nationally televised events. Known as Marching Music’s Major League, the DCI season culminates with the World Championship, held each year in early August at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

This year, the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps placed second with its highest score ever, helping to earn Bluecoats corps director David Glasgow the DCI Director of Year Award. Yamaha DrumCam video of the Bluecoats’ performance is available here: http://4wrd.it/YAMAHADCI2014.

"Year after year, these renowned drum and bugle corps rely on quality Yamaha instruments and support to consistently put on demanding performances that embody the goals of world-class music education," said Roger Eaton, director of marketing, Band & Orchestral Division, Yamaha Corporation of America.

Fully half of the top 12 DCI corps use Yamaha Percussion instruments and PA gear exclusively. All six corps use new 9300/8300 battery percussion instruments, launched in late 2013, along with Multi-Frame II marimbas, vibes and keyboards originally tested for the extreme performance environments of DCI.

Seven of the top 12 corps play Yamaha Brass instruments exclusively, five of which–Bluecoats, Cadets, Cavaliers, Colts and Crossmen–play new Xeno trumpet models YTR-8335RS. Carolina Crown performed this season with the new Xeno model YTR-8335S.

In addition to Yamaha Band & Orchestral instruments, DCI drum and bugle corps rely on the quality of other musical equipment from Yamaha, recently allowed during competition. Three quarters of the top 12 corps use Yamaha DTX electronic drum pads, loudspeakers and mixers. Ten of the top 12 corps use the Yamaha Motif XF music production synthesizer.